Fran Drew And The Lucky Strikes - Trial By Fire

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2024
Time:47:28 
Size:116,0 MB 
Label:Shakey Buddha Records 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Neighbor Neighbor - 4:47
 2. Breaking up Somebodies Home - 3:59
 3. Flamin' Mamie - 3:53
 4. Roll with Me Henry - 3:31
 5. Something You Got - 2:51
 6. Fujiyama Mama - 2:14
 7. I Look Good in Bad - 4:47
 8. Pretty Good Love - 2:51
 9. The Hunter - 6:02
10. Rock Me Baby - 3:59
11. You Can Have My Husband - 3:26
12. Chauffer Blues - 5:02

FRAN DREW and the LUCKY STRIKES are the perfect mix of “attitude and grit”. Frontwoman Fran Drew leads the group with a voice that hits you hard and, above all, demands attention. The Lucky Strikes weave a mix of rock, blues and classic grooves that will get your body moving everywhere. The band is a mix of power, attitude and musical mastery that gives you a permanent rhythm in your step. Fran Drew Fran first sang on street corners in the French Quarter in New Orleans as a teenager and later in a local gospel band. After honing her skills, she became the frontwoman of a swing blues band before forming her own combo: The Lucky Strikes. Her acoustic duo, Mad Max and the Hootchie Cootchie Gal, entertain with Roots, Blues and Bawdy Ballads. Fran is backed by experienced musicians who know exactly how to lay down a groove: Gene Donaldson & Steve Isherwood (guitar), Dennis Cotton (drums) and Max “Ce La Vie” Samson (bass). Periodic special guests on saxophone and harmonica bring even more fire to the mix and add extra flavor and texture. On her debut album ‘TRIAL BY FIRE’ (2024) these are Brandt Taylor and Richiman on guitar, keyboardist Jeff Bousfield (keys), saxophonists “Sax” Gordon Beadle & Matt Parker and harpist Rich Badowski, harmonica.
‘TRIAL BY FIRE’ opens with “Neighbor Neighbor” by Huey P. Meaux. Huey Purvis Meaux was not only a songwriter but also a record producer and owner of several record labels and recording studios. The grooving sax we hear here is provided by “Sax” Gordon Beadly. “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” is a quiet song, written by Timothy Matthews & Al Jackson Jr. In 1972 in the version of a single it became a hit for Ann Peebles. Here Fran does it together with guitarists Gene Donaldson & Steve Isherwood. Jeff Bousfield is the organ grinder here. Willie Dixon co-wrote “Flamin’ Maimie” with Penny “Patti” Page, Paul Whiteman & Fred Rose. It was made famous in Koko Taylor’s 1985 version on Alligator Records. “Roll with Me Henry” also known as “Dance with Me Henry” is a song by Etta James, Hank Ballard & Johnny Otis. It was recorded by Etta James in 1986. “Something You Got” by Chris Kenner was first recorded by Kenner himself in 1961: “Something you got baby, makes me work all day, something you got makes me bring home my pay; something you got, you oughta know, my my, whoa whoa, I love you so…”. “Fujiyama Mama” is by a certain Jack Hammer, aka Earl Solomon Burroughs. Wanda Jackson recorded it in 1958. The lyrics themselves are telling: “I’ve been to Nagasaki and Hiroshima too. The things I did to them, baby, I can do to you. When I start to blow up, no one’s gonna stop me…” Brandt Taylor provides the guitar part here. Dayna Kurtz, who wrote “I Look Good in Bad,” recorded it in 2017. “(That’s a) Pretty Good Love” by Fred Mendelsohn & Buddy Lucas was first recorded by Lucas himself. A version by The Rides followed later, in 2013. “The Hunter” by Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Al Jackson Jr., B.T. Jones & C. Wells was recorded by Ike and Tina Turner in 1969, when everything was still going strong. “Rock Me Baby,” written by B.B. King and Joseph Bihara, is for some reason credited to Curtis Jones and Li'l Son Jackson. Rich Badowski is heard on harmonica here. Dorothy LaBostrie wrote “You Can Have My Husband” which was sung by Irma Thomas in 1977: "But please don't mess with my man…”. The closing song is by Memphis Minnie. She sang about “(Me and My) Chauffer Blues” in 1964.
“On ​​‘TRIAL BY FIRE’ FRAN DREW and his LUCKY STRIKES’ pay extensive tribute to all their predecessors…”

Trial By Fire